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There’s no shortage of productivity tools, systems, and apps, so they can be both overwhelming and costly. Therefore, many advocate going back to the basics of handwritten notes on paper or even sticky notes, but these carry the risk of being lost or forgotten. Smartphones can easily become their digital equivalent, at least until the battery runs out. These two systems don’t have to be mutually exclusive, especially if you’re sitting at your desk and have a fairly large area to put your stuff together. This device concept does just that, combining the worlds of analog and digital to produce something you can be fast and efficient with while having a bit of fun.
Designer: Harshit Sahu
Paper can be easy and apps can be fast, but not everyone needs the commitment that these two disparate note-taking methods sometimes require. There are those who just need to take quick notes or even draw a chart that can be discarded before the day is done. Note, the most generic name ever, is pretty much a little desk whiteboard that lets you do this efficiently, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve that will add a bit of spice and fun to your work.
On the one hand, the “whiteboard” can be rotated or folded down so that you have twice as much space to write down your notes. One side can have a dotted grid finish to help with diagrams while the other can be smooth, or they can have the same design on both sides. As with any vertical slate, you can also place sticky notes on it in case scribbling notes on paper is faster for you. Of course, the notes you write on the board are temporary, and a simple cloth can erase the contents to make room for the next notes.
What makes Note unique is the addition of a multipurpose vertical screen on the left. This also allows you to view the time, calendar, and your appointments synced from your phone. This might be a more efficient way to keep track of your schedule than writing it down by hand and glancing in your notebook every now and then. The screen also offers other functions, such as a timer, a world clock or a music player. But now you can’t watch videos anymore, which would be counterproductive.
Admittedly, Note is not a revolutionary new device, but it creatively combines several ideas into a coherent whole. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but because it’s focused on a specific use case, it can be optimized for that rather than spread thin and overwhelm people with features. It’s simple and gets the job done without getting in the way of you getting the job done.
